Defence Minister Khawaja Asif lambasted the opposition for opposing the Operation Azm-e-Ishtehkam.
He made a speech during the National Assembly session, amid severe protest by the members of the opposition parties.
The central apex committee of the National Action Plan (NAP) approved the counterterrorism offensive during its session on Saturday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting and the participants included the federal ministers, chief ministers of provinces and military and civil bureaucracy.
PTI leaders expressed concern over the operation, demanding it should be brought in the parliament for discussion before approval. The JUI-F is also opposing it.
Khawaja Asif said he wanted to bring attention to the rise in violence against minorities living in Pakistan. He mentioned the PTI’s KP government failure to eliminate terror activities and violence against the people of different religions. He said the opposition could not blackmail him with sloganeering and protest.
He also referred to the PTI lawmaker Sanaullah Mastikhel objectionable comments against him during the assembly session on Saturday.
He highlighted the incidents of violence against minorities in Swat, Sargodha and Faisalabad. He said the government would bring the operation Azm-e-Istehkam before the assembly and then opposition could speak on it. He said what is the point of protest by the PTI when its chief minister (KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur) was present in the meeting of the apex committee which gave approval to the Azm-e-Istehkam.
As the minister concluded his speech, the house was adjourned for an hour and resumed its proceedings later.
When the session met against, PTI leader Barrister Gohar against raised concern against the military operation without taking the parliament into confidence.
